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| Image credit: DVD Planet Store |
Buster Keaton’s
penchant for sight gags and nail-biting anticipation are what made his brand of
comedy so successful and continues to keep it thriving amongst modern
moviegoers. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet and YouTube, such gems as Sherlock Jr. and Seven Chances are accessible to the
wider audience and Keaton’s dazzling blend of slapstick comedy and heartfelt
love stories continues to endure, hallelujah!
Seven Chances tells the story of Jimmie
Shannon, the junior partner of a law firm that gets tricked into a substantial
amount of debt. A ray of hope shines out when Jimmie inherits seven million
dollars from a deceased relative, however he can only inherit it on the proviso
that he’s married before 7pm on his 27th birthday. Only learning
this on the day of the deadline, and accidently blowing his chances with his
one true love, Jimmie has only a matter of hours to find a bride before
nightfall.
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| Image credit: Pinterest |
Teeming with
memorable sights gags, slapstick, and tongue-in-cheek humour, Seven Chances mixes a classic
race-against-time story with something of an epic romance. A thriving rom-com
of its time, the film addresses a number of social issues including gender
differences, race, religion, and age barriers. While some of the humour is a
tad trying and outdated, Keaton’s classic blend between action, romance, and
comedy keeps the film fresh and memorable.
Amongst a number
of classic stunts and scenes, none is so enjoyable as Jimmie’s climactic chase
through town pursued by a horde of angry women. Truly, hell hath no fury like a
woman scorned and the image of Keaton racing for his life a la Indiana Jones is
one that will stay with you forever. Even Mother Nature gets in on the act!
The weirdness and
wackiness of Seven Chances,
everything from its random obsession with the number 7 to its nonsensical gags
about fixed identities, is something of a treat amongst the blockbuster
franchises that dominate our screens.
Director: Buster Keaton, 1925
Cast: Buster Keaton, T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards,
Ruth Dwyer, Frances Raymond, Erwin Connelly, and Jules Cowles
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